A Route-stop Indicator
Page 59
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for motorbuses
BY reason of his practical experience as a bus driver, One of our readers has evolved an interesting form of route-stop indicator which is intended to be mounted inside a vehicle to advise passengers of the next stop which will be made. It is operated by a number of tumbler switches or a rotary switch which can be mounted in the driver's cabin or in any convenient position for control by the conductor. The indicator consists of a rectangular cabinet 2 ft. 4 ins by 1 ft. by ai ins, in the case of the example photographed. On the left-hand side it contains a group of electric lamps which are kept "on" to illuminate the list of place names. On the right-hand side are more electric lamps, each in a light-tight compartment and lighting up one arrow apiece. Each arrow is opposite a place name.
Covering these compartments is a stencil; on the left of it are the place names and on the right the arrows. These stencils are, of course, interchangeable to suit different routes. Over the stencil is a sheet of white glass; this hides the stencil so that only the names and any particular arrow which is illuminated are visible. Passengers can read the signs at a distance of 26 ft.
By depressing any particular switch or turning a rotary one, the lamp below the corresponding arrow is lighted. This indicates, in the photograph we reproduce, that the next stop will be made. at Reading. Obviously, the arrows can be left illuminated for any desired period and there are many forms of use to which this outfit could be put. The device is simple and a patent has been granted. When all lights are " off " nothing is visible on the glass. This would be useful in the case of private-hire work with service buses.
Any of our readers who may he interested in this device should write to "Route-stop Indicator," care of the Editor of this journal, and letters will be forwarded to the proper Quarter.